The body is always described as if standing upright with the palms of the hands
facing forward. There is only one central vertical plane, termed the median or sagittal
plane, and this passes through the body from front to back. Planes parallel to this on
either side are parasagittal or paramedian planes. Vertical planes at right angles to
the median are called coronal planes. The term horizontal (or transverse) plane
speaks for itself. Two specific horizontal planes are (a) the transpyloric, midway
between the suprasternal notch and the symphysis pubis, and (b) the transtubercular
or intertubercular plane, which passes through the tubercles of the iliac crests. Many
other planes are named from the structures they pass through.

Views of the body from some different points are shown on the diagram; a view of
the body from above is called the superior aspect, and that from below is the inferior
aspect.

Cephalic means toward the head; caudal refers to positions (or in a direction)
towards the tail. Proximal and distal refer to positions respectively closer to and
further from the centre of the body in any direction, while lateral and medial relate
more specifically to relative sideways positions, and also refer to movements. Ventral
refers to the abdomen, front or anterior, while dorsal relates to the back of a part or
organ. The hand has a dorsal and a palmar surface, and the foot a dorsal and a
plantar surface.

Note that flexion of the thigh moves it forward while flexion of the leg moves it
backwards; the movements of extension are similarly reversed. Movement and
rotation of limbs can be medial, which is with the front moving towards the centre
line, or lateral, which is in the opposite direction. Specific terms for limb movements
are adduction, towards the centre line, and abduction, which is away from the centre
line. Other specific terms are supination and pronation for the hand, and inversion
and eversion for the foot.